THREE thugs were jailed for a total of 12 years after beating and robbing a group of teenagers who had travelled to Reading to go skateboarding.

Police said the "substantial" sentences should serve as "a warning" of a zero tolerance crackdown on street crime in Reading.

Tiffany Chellar, 19, of Kidmore End Road, Emmer Green, had her three-year-old daughter with her when she used a knife to threaten her victims and rob them.

She committed the crimes with her partner Martyn Robertson, 25, of the same address, and a 15-year-old Reading boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The skateboarders had entered the old bus depot at the junction of Garrard Street and Station Hill on November 3 last year when they saw a group of people with a baby and a Boxer dog.

Within minutes the teenagers were ambushed by the group and a girl was ordered to hand over her mobile phone by Chellar. She refused and ran into Garrard Street.

Chellar then turned on a second teenage girl and showed her a knife before demanding her mobile phone and cash.

A boy was pushed against a wall then had his pockets searched and his mobile stolen.

As he fled following the attack, he turned to see his friend threatened by the dog, which was jumping up and down at him.

The fourth boy tried to flee the scene but was stopped and punched to the floor before having his wallet, rucksack and skateboard, worth a total of £530, stolen.

The robbing trio were arrested two days later after they were caught on camera.

CCTV operator Dennis King spotted people who matched the description of the robbers and directed PC Pete Walsh and Sergeant John Relph to their location.

All three were released on police bail and ordered to stand in an ID parade, where they were picked out by their victims.

They appeared at Reading Crown Court on Friday when Chellar admitted using a knife to threaten her victims, three counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. She was jailed for three years by Recorder Judge Stevenson.

Robertson denied the same four charges but was found guilty by a jury and sent down for five years. The teenage thug also denied the charges but was found guilty and sent to a young offenders' institute for four years.

Detective Constable Pete Smith, of Reading police's robbery initiative, said on Friday: "These were nasty robberies in which young people were attacked for no reason and robbed."

He praised the effective policing that led to speedy arrests and highlighted the "bravery of the victims" for coming forward.

He added: "I also hope other people thinking of committing a crime will stop and think again after seeing the sentences handed out today."

Sian Hickman, Reading police press officer, said: "The sentences are substantial and go to show that it doesn't matter how old you are or if you are a mother or a father.

"Recently an 18-year-old robber was given three years.

"These are the sentences that robbery carries, but they should definitely serve as a warning to everyone else."

Reading Crown Court has a Street Crime status, which means it has special support to deal with street crimes cases fast and effectively.